Posted By David Willow On Nov 12 2010 @ 6:34 pm In Fantasy Football | No Comments

The bye weeks are almost over. It’s a great time in fantasy leagues after the last of the bye weeks and the playoffs just around the corner. Teams are coming together and your team’s outlook for the season should be starting to get a little clearer. The Thursday games have started and hopefully you didn’t bench any of the every week starters from that game, Anquan Boldin or Roddy White. Here are some players to look at this week.

QBs

Starters

Ryan Fitzpatrick vs DET – Fitz is still running strong, though his performance was a bit sub-par against Chicago last week, he should bounce back against a still vulnerable Detroit secondary.

Eli Manning vs DAL – Manning and the Giants eat up the Dallas secondary, even with the coaching change and an injury to Steve Smith, that shouldn’t change much this weekend.

Michael Vick vs WAS – Vick has been consistent of all things this season, and now that he has accepted the idea of throwing the ball he has become true fantasy gold. Washington is 31st in the league against the pass and whatever Vick doesn’t get through the air, he will make up on the ground.

Bench Them

Donovan McNabb vs PHI – McNabb was benched by Mike Shanahan in his last game, though McNabb thrives when he is up against adversity, it doesn’t always translate in to fantasy numbers.

Carson Palmer vs IND – Palmer has been decent over the past few games, from a fantasy standpoint at least, but struggles at times. The Indianapolis defense isn’t strong, but does keep wide outs out of the red zone.

Jon Kitna vs NYG – The Giants defense has their pass rush back and will look to put a ton of pressure on an immobile quarterback who doesn’t thrive under pressure. Look for probably similar numbers from last week.

RBs

Starters

Ahmad Bradshaw vs DAL – Bradshaw ran for 126 yards against Dallas in the last go round and should be able to get similar numbers this week. If he is given goal line chances like he did last week then he will be gold this week.

Arian Foster vs JAX – It doesn’t get much better for a back than it does for Foster this week. He faces a Jacksonville team giving up the 2nd most rushing TDs and has run strong even when the Texans offense struggles. I don’t usually mention Foster as I consider him a must start every week, but this is a tasty match up I had to mention.

Jamaal Charles vs DEN – Charles has a great history of running through the Denver defense and with Denver having a tough time stopping the run, ranked 31st, Charles should light them up. Even if Thomas Jones does shark a few carries from him.

Bench Them

Peyton Hillis vs NYJ – I have a hard time thinking of Hillis as a bad start for the season. I’ll just say I’m tentative, against a stout Jets defense and with a young quarterback under center the yards will be hard to come by for Hillis.

Marshawn Lynch vs ARI – Lynch has a tough time getting into “Beast Mode” in his first few steps when carrying the ball, and usually he’s getting tacked in his first few steps. Arizona is not a top run defense by far and Lynch ran well against them, 89 yards, but with the Seahawks offensive woes and a bad offensive line don’t look for much out of Lynch.

BenJarvis Green-Ellis vs PIT – BenJarvis has had a few good weeks when New England is giving him the majority of carries, but Pittsburgh is a black hole for fantasy running backs. Steer clear if you can.

WRs

Start Them

Mario Manningham vs DAL – With Steve Smith out with a tear in his pectoral muscle, Manningham with get the start opposite of Hakeem Nicks. As I said before, the Giants tear up the Dallas secondary and until Dallas proves otherwise I say run most wide outs against them.

Mike Sims-Walker vs HOU – I’m sticking to my run your wide outs against Texas teams and Sims-Walker is not different. Houston continues to be meek against the pass and Sims-Walker should do well, at least this week.

Steve Johnson vs DET – Johnson has been consistent since he’s been starting and this week should be no different against the Lions.

Bench Them

Dwayne Bowe vs DEN – After catching TDs in the last 5 games, Bowe will have an unfavorable match up against Denver and Champ Bailey. The Chiefs aren’t a throw first team anyway so the few chances Bowe gets Bailey will likely be on him.

Steve Smith (CAR) vs TB – Steve Smith has been needing a quarterback forever, and Clausen isn’t far enough along yet to help him out. He’s tough to bench, but if you have a better option I’d run them.

Santana Moss vs PHI – Moss started off the season good and since has been invisible. This is a common trend with Moss where you can’t calculate when he’s gonna be productive.

TEs

Start Them

Vernon Davis vs STL – Davis had the bye week to heal up his bum ankle and should be good to go as the primary target in the pass game.

Brandon Pettigrew vs BUF – Buffalo has been weak against the opposing tight ends and with Pettigrew’s increased red zone targets he is in line for a productive day.

Mercedes Lewis vs HOU – Lewis should be productive against another team in Houston who can’t stop opposing tight ends.

Bench them

Brent Celek vs WAS – Celek remains nonexistent in the Eagles offense while Vick remains the bane of his existence. Until Vick remembers that he has a tight end Celek should remain in waivers and not in your line up.

Ben Watson vs NYJ – Watson has slowed down in recent weeks and wasn’t real productive in the first place. The Jets will be a tough match up.

Jermaine Gresham vs IND – Again Indy doesn’t give a lot of pass yards, not that Gresham’s fantasy value is in his yards gained, but teams are usually running over them. He’s usually all or nothing anyway.